The Funky Blues Show

This episode looks at how the winter affects our mental and physical health, and why its not such a surprise we can feel awful during the winter. It discusses some of the issues including viral infections, cold weather, immunity, and whether supplements are any help. It also looks at the natural world for inspiration, to find out how animals and plants cope with the winter, and ends with some ideas for us all to take inspiration from nature and stay healthier

Episode seven of Green Shoots sees me out and about in Dorset, on the amazing Isle of Purbeck, enjoying some amateur birdwatching. I visit some wonderful nature reserves including RSPB Arne, and Brownsea Island, in search of red squirrels, nightjars, birds of prey, all six of the UK' native reptiles, along with the elusive Dartford Warbler. You can hear how even an amateur can see and hear some amazing birds, and how sometimes the best place to see birds does not have to be in a special reserve

Episode 6 of Green Shoots is set at the Open Day at Noakes Grove nature reserve, part of the Walden Countryside group. It features an interview with Walden Countryside founder David Corke, sharing hos extensive knowledge of wildlife and ecology, and in particular how to engage young people. Andrew Urquhart describes how we prepared a home, known as a hibernaculum, for a population of common lizards relocated from a construction site. Hopefully you will enjoy the feeling of engaging with nature and maybe feel inspired to help others do so too

The second episode of Green Shoots, this show looks at the issue of water pollution in the UK and the state of our rivers and coastline. Based at the March for Clean Water, on London on 3rd November 2024, organised by River Action, there are contribution from speakers representing wildlife groups, nature friendly farming, fishing, and Youth 4 Nature UK. I discuss the complex issues and what potential solutions are possible, and in particular what we can do as individuals to help. The episode closes with an inspiring speech from Chris Packham

This show looks at the beauty of birdsong, with some great examples of songs of many of our common garden birds. The show looks at why and how birds make such wonderful sound, and what it tells us about their behaviour. Also I discuss what you can do to recognise bird song more easily, and to encourage birds into your garden

..This episode looks at the decline in numbers of insects across the globe, and why we should be worried about it. Drawing on the research and writing of entymologist Professor Dave Goulson, I discuss the reasons for the decline in insect numbers, why this is so dangerous for human survival, and what we can do about it

In this third episode, I discuss the importance of promoting healthy communities of microbes, within the human gut and in the soil. I discuss how western lifestyles contribute to a wide range of illnesses including allergy and autoimmune disease, and what you can do to improve your diet. I also talk about how to promote healthy soil in your garden to improve yields and promote nature

The first episode of the Green Shoots podcast, which will be discussing nature, wildlife, ecology, science, gardening, food production and much more. I will be offering a hopeful message about simple things we can all do to make a difference to our natural environment, by engaging with local projects. In this episode I talk more about this, and what we can do as individuals to change small things to make a big difference. Hope you enjoy - for feedback to greenshoots2@outlook.com

A selection of recent Soul Blues releases from the Deep South and across the USA, featuring music from Wesley Pruit Band, Big Chief Monk Boudreux (pictured), Jade Macrae, Sugaray Rayford, Miss Lady Blues, Adam Schultz and many more. 

A selection of the best blues releases during 2021, featuring some great guitar riffs and vocal performances from Robert Finley (pictured), The Black Keys, Larry McCray, Tia Carroll, Memphisssippi Sounds and Eddie 9V, plus many many more

A selection of the best Funk releases in 2021, with artists and DJs from all around the world, a variety of styles including West Coast, P-Funk, Acid Jazz, Hammond, NU-Disco, 80's synth funk, Funky Hip-Hop and much more, featuring XL Middleton, Big Sam's Funky Nation (pictured), Moogy Bee, The Allergies, C Da Afro, Anoraak and many more 

A second show dedicated to the music of Philadelphia, this show features many modern artists along with some more classic tunes, featuring Soul, Jazz, Roots, Hip-Hop and loads of tunes from the flourishing Blues scene in Philly, with music from Lisa Chavous (pictured), G Love and Special Sauce, Kindred the Family Soul, Jazzy Jeff, Jedi Mind Tricks, Billy Price and many more

This is my loving tribute to one of music's greatest purple patches, the Philly era of the 70's, when one music label, Philadelphia International Records, created some of the sweetest and funkiest Soul music ever made, launched the careers of some great artists, and created the soundtrack for the Soul Train and Disco eras. Featuring music from the O'Jays, Billy Paul, The Trammps (pictured), People's Choice, The Stylistics and many more

A selection of Blues releases from 2021 featuring a number of upcoming talented young stars, along with some established favourites of the show, including the wonderful Errol Linton (pictured), Toby Lee, Cinelli Brothers, Emma Wilson, Connor Selby, Joanne Shaw Taylor and many more

A trip down memory lane to the Hi Energy scene in the early 1980's, spanning the period period between Disco and House, which spread from gay clubs to the mainstream, featuring some great dance music from Sylvester, Divine, Miguel Brown, Patrick Cowley (pictured), Bronski Beat and Bobby O

Highlighting the Australian Blues scene, with some great musicians from stalwarts of the scene to up and coming stars, with a strong focus on music from the Indigenous Australian communities, featuring Dutch Tilders, Marshall and the Fro, Yugul, AC/DC, Marlene Cummins, Geoff Achison and many more

Featuring nominees for the Living Blues awards 2021, with a focus on great female blues and soul artists, with great new music from Nora Jean Wallace (pictured), Bette Smith, Crystal Thomas, Ana Popovic and Bettye Lavette. The boys get a look in too with a great new LP from Sonny Green, and a couple of classics from Jimmy Johnson

A selection of African Jazz artists, and Jazz-influenced African music, including some amazing Ethiopian Jazz, amnd music from right across the continent, featuring Manu Dibango (pictured), Ebo Taylor, Fela Kuti, Tony Allen, Orchestra Baobab and many more

A selection of Funk and Disco-inspired African music from the 70's and 80's, with music from Pasteur Lappe (pictured), Christy Essien-Igbokwe, Geraldo Pino, William Onyeabor, Hugh Masakela and much more

Exploring the music of West Africa and the Sahara region to find clues to the origin of Blues, featuring traditional desert sounds, crossover LPs and modern artists including Ali Farka Toure, Boubacar Traore (pictured), Taj Mahal, Bambino, Djelimady Tounkara, Toumani Diabate and many more

A reprise of my first ever show, back in 2015, with my favourite Blues, Funk, Soul and Jazz classic tunes, featuring Freddie King (pictured), Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, Eddie Harris, Etta James and many more

The best US Blues releases of 2020-21, a time when lockdown has affected live music venues, but artists have got creative in the studio, featuring great new albums from Marcus King, Don Bryant, John Nemeth, Kim Wilson, Bobby Rush and Jeremiah Johnson

A celebration of the contribution of Irish musicians to the Blues and Blues/Rock tradition, featuring legends, newcomers and surprises, with music from Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, Dom Martin, Crow Black Chicken and Van Morrison

A selection of the best UK Blues releases during lockdown 2020 from established stars and some up and coming talent including Connor Selby (pictured), Chris Corcoran, Giles Robson, Catfish, Joanne Shaw Taylor and the late great Peter Green

My selection of the best US Blues releases of 2020, with lots of new and emerging artists, and a few legends, featuring King Solomon Hicks (pictured), Annika Chambers, Junior Watson, Joh Lee Hooker Jr, Jimmy Johnson and Tad Robinson

A greatest hits show featuring the best tune fron each of my last 25 shows, featuring Albert King (pictured), Deitra Farr, OV Wright, Kyla Brox and Kevin Burt

A special show, the 100th Funky Blues broadcast, introducing a Hall of Fame of my favourite artists, modern and classic, featuring some Kings and Queens, including Johnny Guitar Watson (pictured) and many more great surprises

The latest Southern Soul releases along with a few classics, featuring Bigg Robb, Omar Cunningham, Jeter Jones, Sheba Potts-Wright, Tyrone Davis, Tucka and many more

The best of the prolific UK Jazz scene, with talented emerging artists fusing Jazz with African music, Grime, Dub, Ambient, Punk and much more, featuring KOKORKO (pictured), Ezra Collective, Snazzback, Nubya Garcia, Ruby Rushton and Emma-Jean Thackray

A selection of nominees for the Blues Grammy awards in 2020, plus a trip down memory lane to some nominees from the early 1980's, featuring Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Bobby Rush, Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland and Delbert McClinton (pictured)

A celebration of the Jazz and Blues tradition of one of the great musical cities of the USA, with music from Albert King, Roosevelt Sykes (pictured), Chuck Berry, Clark Terry, Donny Hathaway and many more, including seven different versions, by some of the greats, of a classic Jazz tune

A selection of music from some of the great Blues artists from the Chicago music scene, with some funky and more traditional Windy City styles, featuring Deitra Farr (pictured), Maxwell Mojo Band, Billy Flynn, Larry McCray, Mississippi Heat and Steve Freund

A celebration of the amazing music of Kansas City, from the great Jazz era of the 30's to the 50's, to the thriving modern live music scene, with Jazz, Blues, Funk, Folk and Bluegrass, featuring Jay McShann, Count Basie (pictured), Madisen Bear, Billy Ebeling, Little Hatch and Mary Lou Williams

Celebrating the best new blues and roots artists from the USA, featuring nominees for the Independent Blues Awards from the Making a Scene website, with music from JP Soars, Jason Ricci (pictured), Spencer Mackenzie, Damon Fowler and Cary Morin

The best of the amazing Go-Go scene from Washinton DC in the 1980's, some of the funkiest sounds ever recorded, with Electro, Hip-Hop, percission and 80's synth funk sounds, with music from Chuck Brown (pictured), Trouble Funk, E.U. and many more

My tribute to the best of the amazing piano blues sound, featuring the greats including Otis Spann, Pinetop Perkins (pictured), Sunnyland Slim and Champion Jack Dupree, along with modern artists including Victor Wainwright

A selection of modern Blues and Soul featuring artists who have followed my show on Twitter, including Sugaray Rayford (pictured), Alvin Hall, Steve Hunter, Russ Green and Lou Battle.

The best of Mississippi Blues, featuring some of the rising stars, along with legends of the live music scene and a few classic blues tunes from the greats, featuring Anthony Big A Sherrod (pictured), Big George Brock, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Mississippi John Hurt, RL Burnside, Cedric Burnside and Mr Sipp

Intense modern funk, from the UK to the West Coast, inspired by 80's synth funk and 90's G-Funk, featuring Enois Scroggins (pictured), Pbug, Zapp, Incognito, Dogg World, Haggis Horns, Phat Phunktion and many more

My selection of amazing Texas sounds, with guitar boogie and funky blues sounds from the music scene in Dallas, Houston and beyond, with a few Texas guitar legends thrown in, with music from EJ Matthews, Guitar Shorty, Charlie Crockett, Fabulous Thunderbirds and ZZ Top

The latest releases from the UK Blues scene, with a host of new and upcoming talent, with soulful and funky styles alongside traditional rockin' blues, including Kyla Brox (pictured), Connor Selby, Greg Coulson, Wily Bo walker and Andy Knight and the Remedy

The best Southern Soul and Soul/Blues tracks from 2018/9 , featuring some sizzling beats and amazing voices from Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas including Jeter Jones (pictured), Pokey Bear, Sir Charles Jones, Crystal Thomas and Theodis Ealey

A selection of Latin-influenced Blues, Soul, Funk and Southern Rock from Spain, Italy and France, featuring Freedonia, Ronnie Jones, Tonky Blues Band, Vargas Blues Band (pictured), Mike Sponza and Awek, and many more

My selection of the best music from nominees for the 2019 Blues Foundation awards, featuring Kirk Fletcher (pictured), Kevin Burt, Sugaray Rayford, Ronnie Earl, Billy F Gibbons and Annika Chambers

The best of the northern European Blues scene, featuring some great funky sounds from Wentus Blues Band, The Blues Overdrive (pictured), Patrick Jansson Band, Jake Green Band and Thorbjorn Risager

A selection of the best worldwide Funk tunes from 2018, including funky jazz, afro and latin beats, disco, and 80s electro sounds, with music from Vaudou Game (pictured), Javi Frias, Mestizo Beat, Discotron and Brownout

A celebration of Chicago Blues, with its amazing live music scene, featuring Chicago legends and up and coming artists including Billy Boy Arnold, Linsey Alexander, Vince Agwada, The Congregation and Nora Jean Bruso

A selection of tracks from artists who follow my Twitter feed, rewarding up and coming artists as well as some undervalued legends, a mixture of soulful, funky and rockin' Blues, featuring Frank Bey, Beautiful Bobby Blackmon, Mudlow, GH Jack and Roy Roberts

The best of stateside blues from 2018 with nominees from the Blues Blast magazine awards, including Victor Wainwright(pictured), Wee Willie Walker, Ivy Ford, Chris Cain and Bettye Lavette

A greatest hits show with the best tunes from my last 26 shows, with Blues, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Jungle and Reggae, music from Thornetta Davis (pictured), Ramsay Lewis, Diamond Ortiz, JJ Cale, Koko Taylor and Clarence Gatemouth Brown

The best of Chicago Blues, the best music ever, with some living legends, stalwarts of the Chicago club scene, and newer artists breaking the mould, including Russ Green, Homesick James, Magic Slim, Vance Kelly and Jimmy Johnson

A show that defines Funky Blues, with Blues legends riffing on funky bass, raw Rhythm and Blues, Northern, Hammond, and Soul Jazz, with music from Mighty Sam McClain, Allen Toussiant, Benny Turner, Eddie Harris, and Oscar Brown Jr

Great Funk from the late 70's and 80's with Electro, Synth Funk, Disco and a few modern tunes, with tracks from Fat Larry's Band, Unlimited Touch, Jimmy 'Bo' Horne and Leroy Burrell and mixes by John Morales

A selection of Southern Soul tunes from the 70s to the present, featuring amazing soul voices, crooners, honeys and party rockers, including Marvin Sease, Tyrone Davis, Pokey Bear, Ms Jody, Jeter Jones and Johnny Taylor

A celebration of the Flute and Vibraphone, their role in Jazz especially the 60's Jazz scene. Featuring a variety of Jazz styles, plus Soul and Funk, with music from Johnny Lytle, Herbie Mann, Milt Jackson, Bobbi Humphrey and Lionel Hampton

A tribute to the British Blues scene, with some great female singers, Blues/Rock acts and some legends from the past, featuring Kyla Brox, Ian Siegal, Zoot Money, Peter Green and King King

A trip through my Dad's record collection, a very personal journey featuring the music from my youth, which inspired this radio show. Blues-inspired Jazz with a Kansas City style, including Jay McShann, Count Basie, Johnny Hodges and Billie Holliday

The magical music of Cuba, and Afro-Cuban sounds from across the Americas, with Mambo, Son, Jazz, Salsa, Cha-Cha and also some modern Cuban artists, featuring Mongo Santamaria, Perez Prado, Dizzie Gillespie, Celia Cruz and Danay Suarez

100% new music from less well known artists from around the globe, from Chicago and Nashville to Denmark, Leeds and Jakarta, with Funk, Soul, Blues and Reggae from Turquoise Willie, Thorbjorn Risager, Baba Sissoko and The Brit Funk Project

A celebration of the amazing musical heritage of Detroit, Michigan, from Motown Soul and Funk, Jazz and Blues, to the origin of Punk and Techno, featuring the Supremes, Iggy Pop, Derrick May and Jimmy Ruffin

All the best Blues and Soul releases from 2017, featuring winners and nominees for the 2017 Blues Blast magazine awards, including Kilborn Alley, John Mayall, Southern Avenue and Wee Willie Walker

The latest Funk releases from around the World, from Brazil to New Orleans, Togo, Puerto Rico, Israel and Leeds, featuring Corey Henry, Lettuce, Aaron Neville and Family Atlantica

A search for the origin of Funk music, looking at its origins in Gospel, Soul/RnB and Jazz, with rare cut from the vaults, some classics and a few modern artists, including Charles Wright, Bobby Byrd, Etta James, The Motet and Rufus Thomas

A celebration of the joyous 1960's Soul Jazz and Latin scene, amazing dance music from great artists such as Ramsay Lewis, Lou Donaldson, Quincy Jones and Mongo Santamaria

A selection of Blues and Blues-influenced tunes, some 60's guitar licks, Funky 70's Blues, some rare gems and some modern artists, including Jimmy Dawkins, Jimmy Reed, Link Wray and Jimmie Vaughan

A celebration of an unsung golden era of British Funk and Jazz-Funk from the mid 70's to early 80's, featuring Cymande, Central Line, Heatwave, Freez, Hi-Tension and the Real Thing

My 51st Show - a greatest hits compliation of the best tune from each of shows 26 to 50, with as always the best of Blues, Soul, Funk, Rock and Jazz, featuring RL Burnside, Incredible Bongo Band, Koko Taylor, Jay McShann and much more

Some very funky tunes chosen by my old school friend Keith Mills and myself, featuring modern funk, Electo and 80's inspired tunes and a few classics including Krafty Kuts, Brother Strut, The Gap Band, Tommy Stewart and Excellent Gentlemen

Music from my 700 followers on Twitter, feauturing Blues, Blues/Rock, Funk, Soul and Reggae from six continents, from Indonesia, Australia, Brazil and Italy to Leeds, Glasgow, Austin, Pittsburgh, Calfornia and NYC and of course The South, with music from Cash McCall, Shawn Holt, SharBaby, Wily Bo Walker and Swamp Dogg Tracklist Richie Rich and the Chi-Town Blues Band From The Streets Shawn Holt and the Teardrops Daddy Told Me Lenny Fuzzy Rankins Gotta Get a Little Funky Cash McCall Junkie For Your Love The Brit Funk Association Get Up Raging Fyah Judgement Day SharBaby Take it Easy Greazy Sista Jean and CB You Can Dance to the Blues Lee Delray I Got It Wily Bo Walker Little Gina Miss Freddye Lady of the Blues Kelly’s Lot Right Now Capri Juke’s Groove ZZ Hill Am I Groovin’ You? Swamp Dogg Your Last Dirty Trick Hey Gringo Don’t You Say Gugun Blues Shelter High Life Joyann Parker Take My Heart and Run Broken Arrow Blues Band No Time to Waste The Claudettes Give It All Up for Good Johnny Norris and the Dangerous Mood Legba’s Whiskey Hector Ward and the Big Time Brown Liquor Bernard Allison Hey Lady Fantastic Negrito The Duffler Gumbo Blues Catfish Blues Andre Bisson Bad Scene Frankie J Finger Caruso I Still Can’t Forget Levi Platero No More Cash McCall Helluva Time Moondogs Blues Party Impala

This show is dedicated to Civil rights and Black protest music, from the Jazz era to 70's Funk and Soul, with songs about segregation, Alabama, civil rights, racism, Vietnam, and life in the Ghetto, and music from legends like Gil Scott-Heron, James Brown, Nina Simone, Lou Rawls and Marvin Gaye

My selection of the hottest new releases in Blues and Soul in 2018, featuring Sweet Pea Atkinson, Bernard Allison, Nathaniel Rateliff, Reverend Freakchild, Sharon Jones, Isaiah Sharkey and Danielle Nicole.

Jungle, Ragga, Drum and Bass, Old Skool, and some classic Dancehall Reggae tunes featuring General Levy, Barrington Levy, Ed Solo, Serial Killaz, Capleton and many more

A selection of winners and nominees for the Grammy's Blues award from 2000 to 2018 including many of my heroes from Bobby Rush to Etta James, with numerous legends including BB King, James Cotton and Solomon Burke, and upcoming artists like Robert Randolph and the Family Band

Rare Disco, Synth Funk and Electro from New York in the late 70's and 80's, inspired by the great DJ's and producers including Tom Moulton, and UK DJs Bobby and Steve, and Joey Negro, who introduced me to this wonderful music. Tunes from the great Prelude record label, and artists including T Connection, Bobby Thurston, The Strikers, Jean Carne, Shalamar and Instant Funk

Southern Soul and Blues, inspired by the Cassie Fox's Soul of the Blues radio show, from South Carolina, featuring a tribute to the late Denise Lasalle, and some great tunes from Bobby Bland, Charles Wigg Walker, Benny Latimore, Marquise Knox and Willie Clayton

A tribute to Rick Hall, founder of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, origin of some of greatest Soul and Rock recordings ever, from Aretha and Millie Jackson to Bobby Womack and JJ Cale. Also featuring artists from Alabama's amazing rich musical tradition, from Blues and Gospel to Jazz and Bluegrass, featuring Sun Ra, Odetta, Alabama Shakes and Alabama Slim

70 of the best basslines ever recorded, back to back, from Rock and Roll to Drum and Bass, via Jazz, Funk, 80's Soul, New Wave and Reggae, including Chic, Blondie, Parliament, Zapp and The Clash